Gas-lift pump



' INVENToR.

B9? /v "/3 we@ 1 ATTORNEY B. R. SCHABARUM GAS LIFT PUMP Filed May 5 N 7.. .u A.: 1 www. .\\1 n|/2\. .1. 7.. N n... u 1 n u w rv //////////V//////////////////1` Pfiff rdf/4r'bf//frrr Oct. 7, 1930.

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UNiTED s'ra'ras y Y 1,771,680 y rATENr OSI-HCE BRUNo a Vsemiannual, or roLnnO, OHIO, AssIGNoa To THE NATIONAL SUPPLY courANY, or TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO GAS-LIFT PUMP f Application med May 27, 1927. Serial No.v 194,590.

My invention relates to gas liftpumpsof the type wherein at one stage compressed gas (a term`herein used broadly enough to include air) acts as'a pistonl to force the liquid column and expanding therein causes the column to rise and flow to a desired place at the surface of the ground.

It is the principal ob `ect of this invention" l to provide a gas lift pump wherein the valve or valves therein are controlled by the velocity of the fluid .being pumped. Other objects pertainl to details which will be better understood after theyvhave been explained.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 vis aside elevation of a string of well tubing containing my invention, parts being broken away, and a central vertical section of the well casing; Fi 2, a. central enlarged longitudinal section o one of myvalves and the adjacent portions of the well tubing; Fig. 3, a section on the line III-III on Fig. 2; and Fig. 4, a section on the line IV-IV on Fig. 2. y

0n the drawing, 1 desi ates a well casing having at its top a casing head structure provided with the lateral inlet 2 and the cap 3 which screws down on the casing. The upper length 5 of the well tubing extends from thetop of the well down through the cap and into the casing, the cap having the stung box 6 surrounding the length 5. 7 is a gland on the stung box for compressing the packing 8 in the stufling boxV {luid-tight around the said length.

V To the-lower end of the length 5 of the tubing or to the lower end of tandem lengths of tubing coupled together I screw the spe- `cial' coupling 9 which constitutes the fixed member of `my valve. This member comprises the tubular body 10 having near its lower end the internal shoulder 11, on which the tubular sliding or reciprocable valve member 12 rests when at its lower limit. The upper end of the body 10 has the end rin 13 screwed ther-cinto and is provided with the annular skirt or lip 14 projecting into the body,`this lip forming a stop or'thevalve member when at its upper limit. A

helical spring 15 isseated on the top of the valve member 12 and against thelower side of the end ring 13 between the lip 14'and the inner surface of the body 10. The spring tends to keep the valve member-'12 on the shoulder 11. The body'lO has lateral ports 16 with which the ports 17 in the valve member 12 register whenthe latter is on the shoulder 11. When the-member 12 is at its upper limit its` ports 17 are wholly above the ports 16 preventing any flow of fluid through said ports. The internal l diameter of thev valve member is preferably that of the tubing lengths attached to its ends. The passage through the member 12 is restricted in any Suitablamanner as by an internal web,

flange or n 18 which may, if desired, be

extended, as shown, entirely across the mem? ber 12 and be provided with one vor more openings 19 of suitable size. t

rIhe lower end of the coupling 9 may have attached thereto one or more lengths 2O of tubing, to the lower endV of which may be screwed another special coupling 9` provided with all the features that the coupling 9 has. One or more special couplings carrying my valvefeatures may be provided below the coupling 9a, depending on the height of the head of liquid to be pumped. In some cases y one of my valves may be needed. In other cases the tubing string will carry two or more valves.

Assuming that the' liquid to be pumped is oil and that the oillevel under rock pressure stands at a level above the top valve, compressed gas is admitted through the inlet 2 into the casing 1 above the oil level in the casing and tubing. The gas in the `annulus between the casing and the tubing forces the 4 oil down in the annulus and out through the ports 16 and 17, and up't'he tubing. The predetermined restriction b large enough to permit t e flow of the oil at the web 18 is not this stage to lift the valve member 12 and cut O vthe flow of the oil into the tubing.

However, when the level of the oil in the annulus reaches thevopen ports i116 and 17, gas

enters the Oilin the casing and aerates it, the

globules of oil expanding and causing the aerated mixture to flow out of the tubing at the top of the well. This aeration or levigation of the oil causes a drop of pressure in the tubing above the ports 16 and 17, which will cause an increased velocity of the mixed gas and oil. The restriction -by the web 18 is e When the oil level reaches the ports in the second valve, it will closefor the same reasons that the first valve closed when the gas escaped through its ports.

Should the oil passing up through the first valve become de-aerated sufliciently, this valve will open, owing to the decreased velocity of fluid flow up through the valve member 12 andagainst the webr18.' Upon the opening of the first valve compressed gas will enter the ascending column of oil in the tubing and aerate it still further, whereby its velocity will be increased, causing the valve to close. The reopening of a previously closed valve helps aerate the unaerated part of the oil column which has not been aerated by gas passing through the ports in the valve below. The reopening of valves below which the oil level has passed will cease as soon as the column passing them attains the required velocity.

In using the word sleeve in describing the member 12 in the claims, I do not restrict myself to an internalsleeve with an internal web, as the sleeve may be external with the web projecting into the said annulus. In the latter case, the gas would be applied to the liquid in the tubing, the oil being forced up the annulus and out through the passage 2 or otherwise.

It will be noted that the ports 17 are much larger than the ports 16 and that the parts 21 between consecutive parts 12 are very narrow, so that the member 12 may take different axial positions without materially limiting the flow of fluid through the ports.

The spring 15 should be carefully selected so as to prevent the valve member 12 opening either prematurely or tardily.

I claimy 1. In a gas lift pumping string, a well tubing, a hollow member therein, constituting a fixed member and having lateral inlet ports, a hollow movable valve member telescopic with the fixed valve member and having ports registering with the first named ports when the movable member is in one position and out of registry therewith when the movable member is in a second position, a spring tending to move the movable member toward 1ts first position when in its second position,

and means carried by the movable member and in the path of fiuid flowing through said ports and said tubing for moving the movable member to said second position.

2. In a gas lift pump,.a well casing, a well tubing, a fixed hollow valve member interposed therein and having lateral inlet ports, a hollow movable valve member telescopic with the fixed member and having ports registering with the inlet ports when the movable member is in itslower position and out of registry therewith when the movable member is in its upper position, means for admitting fluid pressure into the'casing above the inlet ports, and means carried by the movable member and in the path of fluid flowing up past the movable member from the said inlet ports and' from the tubing below these ports, for moving the movable member to its upper closed position when the velocity of the fluid passing up through the valve reaches a predetermined value.

3. In a gas lift pump, a, well casing, a well tubing, a fixed hollow valve member interposed therein and having lateral inlet ports, a hollow movable valve member telescopic with the fixed member and having ports registering with the inlet ports when the movable member is in its lower position and out ofregistry therewith when the movable member is in its upper position, means for admitting fluid pressure into the casing above the inlet ports, and means carried by the movable member and in the path of fluid flowing up past the movable member from the said inlet ports and from the tubing below these ports, for moving the movable member to its upper closed position when -the velocity of the fluid passing up ythrough the Valve reaches a predetermined value, the said movable member being freely rotatable axially and the parts in one member being sufficiently larger than in the other member so that the rotation of the movable member may not cause appreciable decrease of flow throulgh the ports when in registry.

n a gas lift pump for liquids, two

vertical tubes, one within the other, the inner tube having lateral ports connecting the interiors of the tubes, a valve telescopic with the-inner tube and having ports registering with the said inlet ports when the valve is at its lower position and out of registry with the said inlet ports when the valve is at its upper position, means for admitting a compressed gas into the outer tube above the inlet ports for depressing the liquid in the outer tube, forcing it through the said ports and up through the inner tube until the gas enters the said liquid in the inner tube, means carried by the valve above the ports for restricting the flow of the gas-charged liquid upwardly past the valve, the restricting means said means to seal-o the port p ing to 8. A paratus rof the character described comprising a pair of conduits o which one a toward being such as to cause the valve to rise andv close the said ports when the velocity of the gas charged liquid/flowing up' through the Valve reaches a pre etermined velocity.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising means constituting aconduit and i having a fluid admission port, and tubular ,means associated with the conduit, being responsive to a predeterminedmass and velocity of a iuid stream through said means to cause and prevent the passage therethrough of fluid.

6. Apparatus ofY the character described comprising a pair of fluid condilits, one havinga port affording communication between the interiors of the conduits, and means constituting a valve, being subject in its operation to the momentum of iuid flowing in one y of the conduits thereby moving toward a sealing-ofi relationship to to said momentum.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of conduits, there being al port in one aiording communication between the interiors 'of the conduits, and a gravitating valve situated in one of the conduits and being co-active with the port in controlling the passage of Huid therethroughysaid valve having a formation defining part of the conduit passageway in which it is located, said formation being such that the momentum' of fluid passing therethrough will have a lifting y said valve toward said port tendelect up ose the port.

serves as the flow line, a port in onel of the conduits aii'ording communication between the interiors of the conduits, and a valve of` hollow rconstruction defining part of the pas-i sageway l formation that the momentum of the iiuid y flow in said` line tends to move the valve a sealing-oil position over the ort.

In testlmony f hereof I hereunto a signature.

R. SCHABARUM.

the port according of the low line and being of such'l` i 

